US Soccer has recently announced that its board of directors approved mandates concerning small-sided game guidelines and changing from the current “school year age” matrix (IE. Aug. 1 - July 31) to a “calendar year” age matrix (IE. Jan. 1 – Dec. 31). US Soccer is the governing body for the sport of soccer in the United States. The mandates apply to national youth soccer organizations which are members of US Soccer, which include US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, AYSO, and SAY to name a few of the more familiar organizations. [+]